Universal Life Church

At this moment, only "transcript paper" is available. Interestingly enough, the paper comes with the following caveat: "I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS ITEM IS INTENDED FOR "NOVELTY" ENTERTAINMENT ONLY. BY BIDDING ON THIS AUCTION, YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY AGREEING THAT THE SELLER OF THIS ITEM IS IN NO WAY LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND THAT MAY BE INCURRED AS THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF FRAUDULENT USE OF THE DOCUMENT OFFERED IN THIS AUCTION!" (sorry for the shouting; it appeared exactly in this form in the item listing)

 

Hi.
I'm new here and I saw your posting about the ULC degrees. You have a point about them being overcharged for.
I wanted to change that perception, so I started the ULC Seminary. The courses there are all at least 5 months long, with work involved, reading and writing. At the end, you get a degree.
We have been granted permission by the state to issue these degrees.
The whole accrediting thing is kind of silly. You can start your own accrediting agency and say they are accredited, but it doesnt' mean anything. There are only two or three that carry any weight and they don't accredit non-mainstream courses.

--Amy
Universal Life Church Seminary

 

Hi Amy,

Resurrecting an old thread is not a good excuse to spam our forum.

BTW, you're mistaken about the accreditation options. There are real accrediting agencies that accredit religious seminaries.

Take care,

 

ULC

I wasn't trying to spam the forum.

I saw this thread in a search engine and I wanted to reply. I see people talk about the ULC in a pretty bad light, so I was just writing to say that it's not all like that and we're trying to make changes. That's all.

I have also posted in other parts of the forum that have nothing to do with ULC.

I know that there are accrediting agencies that will accredit religious seminaries. That's not what I was talking about.

When I looked into it, they seem only to accredit a certain type of program.

Nothing like making a person feel welcome.

--Amy

 

ULC degrees and ordinations are not of much utility. Yes people can run around and call themselves "Rev" but it does not make them one. Some states will not allow them to perform weddings.

I support the separation of church and state. As an ordained clergyman, the thought of people ordained by this means makes a mockery of the process and I find it nauseating. Nonetheless, as much as this stuff is a black mark so is the conduct of a number of legitimately ordained clergyman/woman.

The lucky thing is that these ordinations, kinda like having unaccredited degrees, does not open some doors. For instance, to be a clergy person in government service (VA/Military to include Active Reserve, Guard and Civil Air Patrol/Federal Prisons) requires that the denomination be recognized by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board/NCMAF, etc. ULC is not. Also requires accredited degrees.

North

 

ULC

I completely agree that it's just too darn fast.

I went through a one-year seminary myself. Four nights and week and most weekends.

There are a lot of people who want to be 'real' clergy. They want to be knowlegable, skilled and respected.

Others just want to do a wedding for a friend.

For those who want more, I'm just trying to help them. I want to learn about how to get these new courses accredited to help those ministers who want a seminary degree to back up their ordination.

Isn't this the place to learn about doing that?

--Amy

 

ULC

I'd also like to throw in an apology for commenting on an old post.

I'm kind of new to forums and I didn't realize that the post was so long ago.

That apparently is a no-no.

--Amy

 

Re: ULC

Probably the easiest (though not easy) is to bring everything in line so that it could be accredited by the DETC (http://www.detc.org)

Also, someone has posted some legit and free theological courses leading to a degree.

North

 

This is so incorrect, it's hard to figure out where to begin.

There are dozens of recognized accrediting agencies, not "only two or three." And many accredited "non-mainstream courses." Yes, one can start one's own accrediting agency, but that doesn't give it any weight, and doesn't detract from real, recognized accreditation. And given that there are accreditors that accredit distance schools, and others that accredit religious schools, your degree mill doesn't really have any excuses, does it?

 

ulc

Gosh, I guess I won't be getting any neutral communication here, will I?

My organization is separate from the one you are referring to (or I'm assuming you're referring to.)

I did some research and apparently missed the ones you are talking about. What I saw were two that carried the most weight and the rest that didn't.

And the only ones that they accredited were mainline courses, not those spiritual or metaphysical in nature.

I'm trying to improve the image of ULC and I would think that those of you in the know of such things would want that sort of improvement.

Apparently not. Without others to make nasty comments about, how could you possibly elevate yourselves?

I just came to get some information from people I thought would be kind enough to help.

I'm new at distance learning and thought I had more information than I do.

No need to be so nasty about it.

--Amy

 

Amy, Rich is trying to point out the reality that there are other accrediting agencies.

I just told you above about the Distance Education & Training Council. There is no prejudice against New Age and escoetic philosophical schools. DETC accredited a Hypnosis School and a degree granting insitution that looked very theosophical. Even the RA schools accredited a Maharishi school and The Insititue of Integral Studies (New Age).

There is no reason for a school that invests some time and some money in at least DETC to beocme accredited. DETC and some RA org's do not require actual physical on campus programs or libraries, etc. Would TRACS touch your school? No for may reasons some theological and others to do with the fact that you do not have a campus program, library, etc. BUT you have options (RA, DETC).

North

 

Credibility issues

Amy,

My comments are based on my genuine differences of philosophy of religion and ministry. Please do not take this as an attack on you personally...

While it is noble that you want to raise the image of the Universal Life Church, the reality is that as long as your website offers instant ordaination, bachelor degrees for 60 credits and seminary degrees for 40 credits and the like, you will not ever achieve status because you are way outside the mainstream.

Being outside the mainstream may be good in some aspects, but in the realm of education, degrees and especially in the context of pastoring churches is not good.

Having 23 years of pastoral experience and two degrees directly related to ministry, I simply cannot take seriously the ordaination or seminary you promote. Your organization may be different from the one referred to in the previous posts, but the link at the bottom of your post leads to something that simply will not be taken seriously. I'm certain you will disagree, but that is the reality that we live with.

 

Trying to "improve the image" of the ULC sounds totally fruitless. Their image is just fine. They sell joke degrees. They are good at selling joke degrees and their joke degrees have a great reputation. They don't take themselves seriously and don't wish others to, at least that's the impression I get. I just went to the website and read some stuff about monk training that had me laughing out loud.

 

Re: ulc

I've said before that ULC is one of my favorite degree mills. ULC degrees are one of the best deals going for degree mills. They are one of the better deals because they only charge $100 for a diploma which is only $100 more than it is worth.

 

Re: ulc

It is irresponsible to do what you're doing. If calling you on it is "nasty," then so be it. But that's not my intent. Perhaps if you'd asked questions to fill in your knowledge gaps instead of advertising your "seminary," you might get a different response.

 

ULC

Amy,
You brought up MPD in another post. I asked for documentation concerning an alleged MP with diabetes and w/o. No response. Not trying to be unkind, just wondering if anyone in your seminary has a GED or similar certificate? My understanding is that the founder could neither read nor write. Might I suggest a little reading before wasting a thread on a known mill. And do a search on DETC to ascertain requirements for accreditation. I think you have received enough advertising. Just because you are dealing with religion, does not mean you can detract from those that have worked hard at their legitamate degrees. I may get in trouble, but I think you are a shill. So if it will help get you off the forum. Get mad at me. I cannot understand why everyone falls for the Amy con. The pitiful young thing just cannot find information. My,my....and I'm sure you are a pastoral counselor. Certainly reassures my trust in exposing bogus posting from poor little shills. Please move to political to vent your frustration at a system of checks and balances.

 

ULC

Amy,
You brought up MPD in another post. I asked for documentation concerning an alleged MP with diabetes and w/o. No response. Not trying to be unkind, just wondering if anyone in your seminary has a GED or similar certificate? My understanding is that the founder could neither read nor write. Might I suggest a little reading before wasting a thread on a known mill. And do a search on DETC to ascertain requirements for accreditation. I think you have received enough advertising. Just because you are dealing with religion, does not mean you can detract from those that have worked hard at their legitamate degrees. I may get in trouble, but I think you are a shill. So if it will help get you off the forum. Get mad at me. I cannot understand why everyone falls for the Amy con. The pitiful young thing just cannot find information. My,my....and I'm sure you are a pastoral counselor. Certainly reassures my trust in exposing bogus posting from poor little shills. Please move to political to vent your frustration at a system of checks and balances.

 

Alot of their higher degrees now require study.

 

North,

I do have to correct you on one thing, I do personally know one ULC minister that is ONLY ordained with the ULC and currently services in the rank of Capt as a US Air Force Chaplain. That being said he did recieve his Masters from a traditional seminary program to meet the other commissioning requirements.

v/r

Josh

(active duty Air Force)

 

Frankly, I am shocked and quite surprised. Is Universal Life recognized by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board/NCMAF? That is the only way for that to happen along with the accredited degree.

Edit:

NCMAF does not have a complete list on their links page but I pulled up the Veterans Administration list of denominations that are recognized and I believe this is the same list as NCMAF. Universal Life Church does not appear (Unity & Unitarian but no ULC).

I would be interested to know how he did that?? Maybe you could ask him and post back here. Was he grandfathered in some way? Did someone slip up? You can check here (no ULC).

http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=335

The denomination MUST be recongized by NCMAF (who you can see is very generous) but no ULC.

North